PERU AND CHILE AGREE TO RESUME "TWO PLUS TWO"

UNCLAS LIMA 002625 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PE CI SUBJECT: PERU AND CHILE AGREE TO RESUME "TWO PLUS TWO" MEETINGS REF: LIMA 2302 ¶1. In a press release issued on June 10, Peru's Foreign Ministry announced that Peruvian FM Rodriguez and Chilean FM Walker had decided to convene a meeting on July 6 of the "2 plus 2" mechanism, the consultative group made up of the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the two countries. This step had been agreed to previously in the Joint Declaration (text furnished in reftel) signed by the Foreign Ministers on May 22 with reference to the controversy over Chilean arms sales to Ecuador during the 1995 Peru-Ecuador border conflict. Scheduling a date for the "2 plus 2" meeting is a further indication of the desire of the GOP and the GOC to return their relations to a more normal footing. ¶2. Embassy's informal translation of the press release follows: (Begin text) Press Release 255-05 The Foreign Minister of Peru, Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, and of Chile, Ignacio Walker Prieto, decided to convene a meeting of the Permanent Committee for Political Consultation and Coordination (known as the "2 plus 2" mechanism),for Wednesday, July 6, in Lima. Besides the Foreign Ministers of Peru and Chile, the Ministers of Defense of the two countries, Roberto Chiabra and Jaime Ravinet, respectively, will also participate in this meeting. Also, the Foreign Ministers confirmed the occurrence of the Annual Meeting of the High Military Command Roundtable, which will take place in Santiago on Monday, July 4. These meetings between the high military commands take place annually alternating sites between Chile and Peru, the last having been located in Lima. Lima, June 10, 2005 (End text) STRUBLE